One of the most universally enjoyed games of skill is Darts. You will find well-used dartboards in pubs, taverns, union halls, and recreation rooms in every habitable corner of the world.
The game of darts has been a pastime enjoyed by people for hundreds of years. However, historians agree that darts began as a way to quell the boredom of troops during military campaigns in the 1300s. The credit for updating the game goes to a Lancashire carpenter named Brian Gamlin, who invented the modern game of darts in 1896.
There are scores of versions of the game of darts. Here are five popular games that are easy to learn and fun to play.
1. Killer Dart Game
Number of Players: 3 or more.
Numbers in Play: Players decide the numbers used at the start of the game. Each player will throw a dart at the board with their non-dominant hand. The number they land on becomes their number. Only one player can have a number.
Numbers in Play: Players decide the numbers used at the start of the game. Each player will throw a dart at the board with their non-dominant hand. The number they land on becomes their number. Only one player can have a number.
Rules of the Game: Each player has three lives. Each player tries to hit a double of their own number to start.
After hitting a double of their own number, the player becomes the "Killer" and tries to take opponents' lives by aiming for doubles of their numbers. When a Killer hits doubles of an opponent's number, the opponent loses a life.
The game progresses until only one player has a life or lives. It is possible to take your own lives away by accidentally hitting doubles of your number after becoming a Killer.
2. Cricket Darts
Number of Players: At least 2 or 2 teams.
Numbers in Play: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bullseye.
Start of the Game: Players begin by throwing one dart at the board. The player who hits closest to the bullseye goes first.
Objective: Players need to own/close all Cricket numbers on the board before their opponent.
Play: Each player has 3 throws and tries to hit a Cricket number with all three. Once hitting a number three times, the player 'owns' the number and can continue to score on the number until an opponent hits the number three times, then the number is 'closed' and removed from play.
Scoring: Each number and bullseye must be hit three times by a player or team to be owned/open.
Doubles will count as two hits and triples as three.
When a player or team owns a number, doubles will count as twice the point value, and triples will count as three times the number. The outer bullseye counts as a single, and the inner bullseye counts as a double.
The owned number will be open for further scoring until the opposing team hits it three times to close it. Play continues until all Cricket numbers and the bullseye are all closed and the team with the most points wins.
3. Shanghai Darts
Number of Players: 2 or more.
Numbers in Play: 1-20
Start of the Game: Players throw a dart, and the one closest to the bullseye goes first.
Play: Each player takes a turn throwing three darts at the board, trying to hit the numbers in sequence (number one hit three times, then number two). The game continues until the last player finishes their throw on 20.
The player with the highest score at the end of play wins. If a player gets a Shanghai (which is a single, double, and triple in one turn), the game is over, and that player wins.
4. Knockout Darts
Number of Players: Any
Numbers in Play: All
Start of the Game: Players throw a dart and whoever gets closest to the bullseye goes first.
Play: The first player throws three darts at the board and marks their score. The second player does the same, and so on. The goal is to get a higher score than the player ahead of you. If a player fails to get a higher score three times, they are out of the game. Play continues until only one player remains.
5. 301 Darts
Number of Players: Either two individuals or two teams.
Numbers in Play: All
Start of the Game: Players throw a dart and whoever gets closest to the bullseye goes first.
Play: Each player or team begins with 301 points; the game's object is to reduce your points to zero. Each turn, a player has three throws and then adds up their score. Then the score is subtracted from 301. The first player or team that reaches zero wins.
Darts and Accessories to Play Dart Games
Dartboards
At The Cue shop, we carry a vast assortment of dartboards designed to meet the needs of players from beginner to professional. Our high-quality dartboards will last for many years but remember to treat the board correctly and rotate the numbers to ensure the longest life possible.We recommend using quality sisal, wire-free, staple-free dartboards such as the Winmau Blade 6 Range and the Target Aspar Dartboard
